Auckland revs up as V8 Supercars return

Auckland is getting revved up with a series of free events to celebrate the return of the V8 Supercars, including drive-in movies and opportunities to meet V8 Supercars champion drivers.

V8 Supercars are returning to Auckland.

The high-octane ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars is set to return to Pukekohe Park Raceway from Friday 6 Sunday until Sunday 8 November, with no-holds-barred sprint action, motorsport racing and family entertainment.

In the week leading up to the Pukekohe event, Aucklanders and visitors can channel their inner motorsport fans at the V8s Supercars Drive-in Movie on Saturday 31 October and the V8s Supercars Fan Day on Thursday 5 November.

The V8s Supercars Drive-in Movie takes place at the ASB Showgrounds, with gates opening at 7pm and the feature starting at 8.30pm. There will be live entertainment until the movie starts, food and drink stalls, and chances to win great prizes.

The drive-in movie is a free event but people will need to register online in advance and display a ticket in their car window to gain entry. People will have a chance to vote online for their movie of choice from mid-October.

On Thursday 5 November, V8s take over the central city for the V8s Supercars Fan Day at Aotea Square.

A convoy of American classic muscle cars will warm up their engines on Queens Wharf at 10am, then parade up Queen St from 11.40am, carrying the V8 Supercar drivers to Aotea Square.

Kiwis Shane van Gisbergen, Scott McLaughlin, Fabian Coulthard and Andre Heimgartner – driving for New Zealand’s very own Super Black Racing – and perennial favourites from across the ditch, Garth Tander, Mark Winterbottom, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup will all be in the square.

Fans can meet the drivers, get autographs and selfies, test their skills on the recently released Forza Motorsport 6 Xbox game, check out high performance remote controlled cars, get a close-up look at the 28 muscle cars, and get into high gear for the ITM 500 Auckland 2015. Lucky gamers will have the chance to pit their console skills against champion drivers.

Activities in Aotea Square run from 10am-3pm, with the V8 supercar drivers on-site from midday until 1.15pm.

The V8s Supercars Drive-in Movie and V8s Supercars Fan Day are organised by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) in conjunction with V8 Supercars.

ATEED chief executive Brett O’Riley says as one of New Zealand’s largest annual sporting events, the ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars brings world-class motor-racing and an unrivalled atmosphere to Auckland.

"This is an event which has generated $14.6 million for the regional economy in its first two years and boosted the profile of Auckland and Pukekohe, particularly in the key Australian market. Let’s crank up that V8s atmosphere at the drive-in movie and fan day, and give the V8 Supercars racing teams a warm Auckland welcome."

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton says the race teams look forward to the Auckland fixture: "Pukekohe Park Raceway is motorsport’s spiritual home in New Zealand, and the racing, the fans and the atmosphere at the track is brilliant."

"The drivers love racing at Pukekohe, and Auckland always turns on a great occasion for teams and drivers. They’re looking forward to meeting the fans in Aotea Square for the V8s Supercars Fan Day before they head out to the track."

The ITM 500 Auckland V8 Supercars is part of the ‘AKL: The Show Never Stops Stellar Spring Line-up’ of events taking place this year. The (2015) event marks the third year of a five-year investment in V8 Supercars by ATEED, on behalf of Auckland Council.